Bench seat for a chair of a chairlift

ABSTRACT

A bench seat for a chair of a chairlift having a cross support bar ( 2 ) fastened to a supporting frame member ( 1, 9 ) of the chair. The front bench seat element ( 5 ) is supported by said cross support bar ( 2 ). The bench seat is furthermore provided with a backrest ( 10 ). The bench seat element is a one-piece bench seat top ( 5 ) that is hinged on its sides ( 6, 7, 8 ) to said supporting frame member ( 1, 9 ). Said backrest ( 10 ) is designed as a load-carrying laminated element, which is hinged on its sides ( 11, 12 ) to said supporting frame member ( 1, 9 ). Said backrest ( 10 ) is thereby provided with a transversely running supporting surface ( 13 ) at its lower region onto which the rear section ( 14 ) of said bench seat top ( 5 ) may be braced against. The bench seat may be constructed thereby in a simpler manner to hold a varying number of (required) seats since standard parts may be used at each side. Care and maintenance are simplified through the folding ability of the backrest and the bench seat top.

[0001] The invention relates to a bench seat for a chair of a chairlift comprising a backrest and a cross support bar fastened to a supporting frame member of the chair supporting the front bench seat element.

[0002] A number of bench seats for chairlifts are known from prior art. In the rule, they are provided with two cross support bars—a front and a rear cross support bar. On these cross support bars there rests the individual bench seat elements or a bench seat extending across the entire seating area. Furthermore, there is in most cases an additional cross support bar attached above the rear cross support bar onto which there are fastened individual backrest elements or a backrest extending across the entire width.

[0003] A disadvantage of the prior art is, on one hand, the fact that there is an open space between the bench seat top and the backrest. This leads to an air draft that directly strikes the kidney region of transported passengers sitting on the bench seat. On the other hand, this means that there must be manufactured corresponding cross support bars and tubular cross members as well as bench seat elements and backrest elements to build chairs holding two, three, four or six people. This means furthermore that structural characteristics have to be examined individually for each type of seat. Finally, this type of conventional seats is not easy to be maintained since during standstill of the system there is precipitation and dirt collected on the bench seats which must be cleaned again or at least checked before deployment.

[0004] Based on this state-of-the-art, it is the object of the invention to provide a bench seat of the type mentioned in the beginning which removes the above-mentioned disadvantages, one which can be manufactured in a simpler manner, one which is more comfortable for the user, and one which is easier to be maintained by the operator of an aerial cableway.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention for a bench seat of the type mentioned in the beginning in that the bench seat element is a one-piece bench seat top that is hinged at its sides to the supporting frame member, whereby the backrest is designed as a load-carrying laminated element that is hinged on its sides to the supporting frame member, and whereby the backrest is provided with a supporting surface extending transversely across the lower region onto which the rear section of the bench seat top may be braced against.

[0006] It is possible to do without the load-carrying tubular cross support member by the fact that the backrest is fastened to the sides of the supporting frame member. As a load-carrying laminated element, the backrest is able to serve as a supporting surface for the bench seat top so that the rear cross support bar existing in prior art may be eliminated. Additional advantages may be found in the description.

[0007] In particular, the hinge of the bench seat top may be designed to be vertically slidable to offer secure assembly of the bench seat on one hand and to make the bench seat easily swivable on the other hand. The novel bench seat as well as the backrest are thereby designed to be swivable and the care and maintenance for the chair are made simple through the folding ability of the two elements.

[0008] Additional advantageous embodiments are characterized in the minor claims.

[0009] In the following, the invention is explained in an exemplary manner by an embodiment example with reference to the drawing whereby the single figure shows a cross-sectional view of a chair according to the invention.

[0010] The supporting frame member is identified with the reference number 1, which extends here semicircular along two sides of the seat starting from the suspension member of the chair. The supporting frame member 1 is a circular hollow support member. However, it may be chosen in any other shape as well. The only necessary through-going connection between the two lateral support frame members 1 is a cross support bar 2. This element, designed as a square support member having a flat upper support surface 3, for example, forms the support for the pad 4 which is designed to be continuous or to be in segments transverse to the bench seat top 5 and fastened to the underside thereof, or to be in one piece therewith.

[0011] The bench seat top 5 has a one-piece surface which is provided at its sides with a perforated plate 6 disposed at the center leading toward the rear area, respectively, whereby said perforated plate 6 is oriented essentially vertical to the seating surface. Each perforated plate 6 has an oval hole 7 through which a pin 8 may be guided. The pins 8 are respectively fastened on a side plate 9, which in turn is mounted to the two lateral supporting frame members 1. Of course, there is also a configuration possible whereby the plate 6 is provided with a pin, which is inserted into an elongated hole 7 in the side plate 9. The purpose for the pin/hole combination lies in securing the bench seat as it is explained further below.

[0012] The backrest 10 is designed as a load-carrying laminated element that is hinged at its sides to the supporting frame member 1 via a provided hole 11 and a pin 12 provided on the side plate 9. Here also, there is of course the switching of pin and hole possible even though it is simpler to reinforce the sides of a one-piece backrest 10 in the hinge region and to provide a hole 11 therein.

[0013] The backrest 10 has a supporting surface 13 in the lower area underneath the hole 11 running transversely and essentially horizontal onto which the rear section 14 of the bench seat top 5 may be braced against. In particular, there can be provided a lip 15 under the bench seat top 5 made of elastic material, for example, which rests against the supporting surface 13. At the edge of the supporting surface 13 near the backrest 10 there is a transversely running nose 16 provided which makes interlocking of the two elements 5 and 10 possible. The nose 16 may thereby rest against a flat region of the lip 15.

[0014] The backrest 10 rests with its upper section 17 against a brace 18, which is fastened to the side plates 9. The brace 18 may consist of two more or less lengthy rods in a simple design onto which the backrest 10 is braced against. It is also possible that the brace 18 is a through-going tubular cross support member. It is particularly possible that only short studs are attached to the side plates 9 onto which a correspondingly fitted tubular cross support member is placed to improve the modular design.

[0015] Supplemental functions of the bench seat may thereby be easily detected from the drawing. The bench seat requires only one cross support bar 2. The bench seat top 5 rests against this cross support bar 2 and the lower section 13 of the backrest 10, which in turn is held in place by the lateral pins 12. Should the lip 15 slide off the supporting surface 13—against any expectations—then the bench seat top 5 does not fall down but it is held by the pins 8, which then drop into a terminal position in the elongated holes 7. The pins 8 act thereby as locking bars in case of malfunctioning of the connection between the bench seat top 5 and the supporting surface 13, and said pins 8 catch thereby the weight of the bench seat top 5 and that of the user.

[0016] Furthermore, the elongated holes 7 and the pins 8 allow pivoting of the bench seat top 5 about this axis to place the bench seat top 5 into an essentially vertical position (essentially parallel to the backrest 10) during nonuse and to protect it thereby against soiling. The backrest 10 is pivoted thereby about the axis defined by the pins 12 and is then lifted off the pins or the tubular cross support member 18. At the same time, it is possible to fold the backrest 10 all the way to the front and orient it thereby essentially parallel to the bench seat top 5. This may be used for the securing of freight, for example, if corresponding fastening elements are provided therefor on the backside of the backrest 10.

[0017] The advantage of the present construction lies in the modular design. The bench seat top and the backrest may still be adjusted in size according to the type of chair to be produced whereby the side plates 9 and other essential elements of the chair are standardized. Series of chairs with varying widths can thereby be realized more rapidly.

[0018] The bench seat top 5 and the backrest 10 may consist of aluminum panels, for example, formed from the same synthetic material, or each seating area may be equipped with seat cushions or the like. The backrest 10 is nevertheless termed and illustrated as being laminated. Of course, it is possible to equip this backrest with a lattice backing having an inserted backrest panel even if this means less comfort for the user of the chair.

[0019] Each chair consists of two side plates 9 provided with corresponding elements, which are fastened on the same respective supporting frame member 1. The seat top 5 and the backrest 10 may be adjusted in size according to the (required) number of seats on the chair. Only the plates 6 are then to be fastened to the seat top 5. Furthermore, there is a tubular cross support member to be cut to serve as the brace 18 and then the tubular cross support bar 2 is to be fastened to the supporting frame member 1. 

1. A bench seat for a chair of a chairlift comprising a backrest (10) and a cross support bar (2) fastened to a supporting frame member (1, 9) of the chair supporting the front bench seat element (5), characterized in that the bench seat element is a one-piece bench seat top (5) that is hinged at its sides (6, 7, 8) to said supporting frame member (1, 9), wherein said backrest (10) is designed as a load-carrying laminated element that is hinged on its sides (11, 12) to said supporting frame member (1, 9), and wherein said backrest (10) is provided with a supporting surface (13) extending transversely across the lower region onto which the rear section (14) of said bench seat top (5) may be braced against.
 2. A bench seat according to claim 1, wherein hinging of the bench seat top (5) occurs at the supporting frame member (1) via a side plate (6) whereby a elongated hole (7) is provided on said supporting frame member (1, 9) or on the side plate (6), and whereby on the respective other element (6 or 1, 9) there is provided a pin (8) engaging into said elongated hole (7), and whereby said pin (8) is not arranged in the end area of said elongated hole (7) during placement of said bench seat top (5) onto said cross support bar (2) and onto the supporting surface (13) of said backrest (10).
 3. A bench seat according to claim 1, wherein said backrest (10) is provided at its side each with a hole (12) or a pin (11) for hinging said backrest (10) to said supporting frame member (1), and whereby said supporting frame member (1) is complimentary provided with a pin (11) or a hole (12).
 4. A bench seat according to claim 3, wherein a cross support member (18) is provided at both sides of said supporting frame member (1, 9) and above the hinged location (11, 12) of said backrest (10) whereby said cross support member (18) is made of two individual lateral rods or a through-going tubular cross support member.
 5. A bench seat according to claim 1, wherein the supporting surface (13) is provided with a transversely running holding nose (16) oriented upwardly, which cooperates with a lip (15) of said bench seat top (5) that is oriented downwardly.
 6. A bench seat according to claim 1, wherein said supporting frame member (1, 9) is each provided with a side plate (9) onto which there is hinged said bench seat top (5) on its sides (6, 7, 8), and wherein said backrest (10) is hinged on its sides (11, 12) to said supporting frame member (1, 9).
 7. A bench seat according to claim 6, wherein each side plate (9) is provided with two pins (8 and 12) to engage the corresponding holes (7 and 11) in said bench seat top (5) and said backrest (10), and to serve as support for said backrest (10) via a cross support element (18).
 8. A bench seat according to claim 6, wherein said cross support elements (18) are studs onto which said connecting tubular cross support member may be placed upon. 